Applicator



Oct. 30, 1956 I w. B. sMlLLlE APPLICATOR Filed Jan. 6, 1955 United States .Patent APPLICATOR Winston B. Smillie, Ladue, Mo., assignor to Piatt & Smillie Chemicals, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri .Application January 6, 1955, Serial No.-480,221

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-131) This invention relates to applicators, and more particularly to a device for applying wax to iloors.

The invention involves an improvement upon the applica-tor `disclosed in the coassigned copending application -of myself .and .John L. .Rainey entitled Applicator, :Serial No. 451,596, Afiled August 23, .1954. In the case of the applicator disclosed .in said copending application, when using a cake of wax that is apt to crumble, it some- Vtimes happens that small crumbs of wax slip olf the upper reach of the endless belt of the applicator and fall. Ato tthe floor, where the polishing machine throws them to `one side, failing to burnish them into the floor surface. Also, in some instances where the consistency of the -cake of wax is harder than usual, the weight of the cake (-aive-pound'cake, for example) causes the upper reach lof lthe 4endless belt to sag downward, and the lower end vof thecake becomes of lconvex shape corresponding to -the sag, with the result that there `'is an increased amount of drag on the fbelt which may reach the point where 'the belt will not run lfreely upon side-to-side swinging of the applicator. The object of this invention is the elimination of these difficulties, and the invention in general involves `the provision between zthe two end rolls around which the endless belt is trained of a third roll of the same diameter 'as the end rolls. In addition to this Vimproved 'construction overcoming any possible tendency 'to throw crumbs lor to cause increased drag o-n the belt,

`Yindicated-in the following claims.

In the accomp'anyingdrawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the vinvention is illustrated,

Fig. il is a plan view of an applicator embodying this invention;

Fig. vZ'is a vertical cross section -taken on line 2--2 fO'f Fig. i1;

Fig. 3 is 'a fragmentary cross section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l;

,Fig-2l fis 'a 4perspective illustrating one -mode of attachingftheapplicatorcto apolishing machine; and,

Fig. Sis .a perspective illustrating another mode of attaching the applicator yto a ,polishing machine.

Corresponding referencecharacters indicate corresponding .parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, an applicator embodying my invention yis shownto comprise a cylindrical container 1 which lis vadapted to vcontain a can of paste wax with Athe bottom of the vcan cutout, Ior a block of paste wax removed vfrom the can, cream -wax or the like. The container has an unobstructed open bottom. It has an integralihorizonta'lbottom flange 3 extending outward all aroundthe 'bottom, and an :integral peripheral skirt 5 depending from the ange. The skirt has two opposite fice,

straight parallel .sides 7, and two opposite curved sides 9. The sides 7 are formed with a .pair of aligned inside bosses 11 toward one end, and a pair of aligned inside bosses 13 toward the other end. Each of these bosses is formed with a bottom-opening recess 15.

The applicator includes a pair of rolls 17 and 19 mounted on shafts 21 and 23, respectively, and extending between the walls `7 of the skirt 5. The ends of shaft 21 extend into the recesses '15 in the bosses 11, and the ends of shaft 23 extend into the recesses 15 in the bosses 13. The shafts are held in the recesses by angle members 25 having a horizontal leg attached to the bosses by screws 27 and a vertical leg extending upward v'ou the inside of the bosses. An endless belt 29 is trained around the rolls 17 and 19, with its upper reach 31 extending across the open bottom of the container 1 below the bottom side of the flange 3, and with its lower reach 33 below the bottom edge of the skirt 5. This belt may be made of synthetic rubber, such as is sold under the trade name neoprene, polyethylene, or any other suitable material. lt is wider than the open bottom of the container. A rubber bumper 35 may be provided around the lower rim of the skirt.

At 37 is shown a doctor blade for cooperation with the portion of the belt passing around the roll 17 and at 39V is shown another doctor blade for cooperation with the portion of the belt passing around the roll 19. Each of these doctor blades comprises an angle member having a horizontal leg fastened to the bottom side of the ange 3 by means vof screws 41 extending through slots 43 in the horizontal leg, and a vertical leg extending downward toward the belt. The slots extend Vin the direction of the length of the belt, and, by loosening the screws 41, the blades may be adjusted toward and .away from the belt to vary the feed of the wax. i

A dome-shaped lid for the container 1 is indicated at 45. The lower rim of the lid is formed for .telescoping engagement with the upper end of the container as indicated at 47. The lid has an upwardly extending diametrical rib 49 on ythe top. This rib is provided with a central notch 51. A bail 53, formed from ya length of resilient rod, has inturned lower ends 55 sprung into openings 57 in opposite sides of the container 1 adjacent its lower end. The plane of the bail is crosswise of the belt, and vthe bail is adapted to be swung to a vertical position overlying the lid 45 in which its upper `portion is sprung into the notch 51 of the rib 49 securely to hold the lid in place.

AA conventional forked screw socket 59 is adapted rto kbe attached to the yupper Lportion of the bail straddling the rib 49, as indicated in phantom in Fig. 2, for reception of a conventional screw-end handle. A hinge leaf 61 is secured in vertical position on one of the sides 7 of the skirt 5 as by screws 63. Pivotally connected by a hinge pin 65 to the upper `end of the leaf 6l is another hinge leaf 67. rLeaf 67 constitutes a link pivotally connected at one end to the applicator for swinging on a horizontal axis generally at the level of the flange 3. Pivotally connectcd to the free end of the leaf 67 by a horizontal hinge pin 69 is a third hinge leaf member 71. Member 71 has holes 73 for receiving screws for attaching it to a conventional polishing machine.

Fig. 4 shows one mode of attaching the applicator to a conventional polishing machine P wherein the member 71 is attached to the machine at its forward end, so that the applicator extends forward from the machine. The link 67 provides for vertical articulation of the applicator with respect to the polishing machine to insure that the belt of the applicator rides on the oor with the .full weight of theapplicator brought to bear on the belt. Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative mode of attaching the apswung from side to side.

In accordance with this invention, a roll 75 of the same diameter as rolls 17 and 19 is provided between the rolls 17 and 19. Roll 75 is preferably slightly shorter than rolls 17 and 19. The space between rolls 17 and 19 is greater than the roll diameter, and roll 75 floats between them, being free to shuttle back and forth as the applicator is swung from side to side.

In using the applicator, the container 1 is loaded through the top with wax by removing the lid. The container may be loaded with a can of paste wax, for example, by cutting ofr the bottom of the can and inserting the can with the wax therein bottom down into the container. Under these circumstances, the block of paste wax tends to slide down out of the can to bear at its lower end upon the upper reach of the belt, the belt being wider than the block. By swinging the applicator from side to side, the belt is caused to travel around the rolls 17 and 19, tirst in one direction and then the other, and the upper reach of the belt rubs against the wax for transfer of wax thereto and the wax is transferred from the lower reach of the belt to the iloor. The roll 75 shuttles back and forth between rolls 17 and 19, supporting the upper reach of the belt to prevent any crumbs of wax from spilling out over the side edges of the upper reach and also to prevent the lower end of the cake of wax from becoming of convex shape. The doctor blades are adjusted to obtain the desired thickness for the film of wax to be applied to the floor. Preferably, the upper reach of the belt is spaced slightly below the flange 3, so that it does not rub against the flange. Instead of inserting the can of paste wax in the container 1, after cutting out the bottom of the can, the block of wax may be allowed to slide completely out of the can and into the container. Cream wax may also be used.

It will be observed that with the plane of the bail 53 crosswise of the belt, and the pivotal axes of the link 67 and member 71 crosswise of the belt, in order to obtain travel of the belt around the rolls, the applicator must be This type of application is preferable to straight line back and forth application.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An applicator, particularly for applying wax to oors, comprising a container for paste wax or the like, said container being open at the bottom and adapted to be loaded through the top, a ange extending outward from the container at its bottom all around the bottom, a peripheral skirt depending from the flange, a pair of end rolls journalled at their ends in two opposite sides of the skirt and located toward the ends of said sides, an endless belt trained around the end rolls and having its upper reach extending across the open bottom of the container below the bottom side of the liange and its lower reach below the bottom edge of the skirt, said belt being wider than the open bottom of the container, the space between said end rolls being greater than the roll diameter, and a third roll having a diameter substantially corresponding to that of said end rolls located between said end rolls and being freek to move back and forth between said end rolls, the open bottom of the container being unobstructed whereby a block of paste wax loaded in the container may slide down out of the ,container to bear at its lower end on the upper reach of the belt, said third roll shuttling back and forth between the end rolls on movement of the applicator to apply wax to a oor for supporting the upper reach of the belt to prevent any crumbs of wax from spilling out over the side edges of the upper reach of the belt and to prevent the lower end of the block of wax from becoming of convex shape.

2. An applicator, particularly for applying wax to floors, comprising a cylindrical container for paste wax or the like, said container being open at the bottom and adapted to be loaded through the top, a flange extending outward from the container at its bottom all around the bottom, a peripheral skirt depending from the llange, said skirt having two opposite straight parallel sides, a pair of end rolls journalled at their ends in said opposite sides of the skirt and located toward the ends of said sides, an endless belt trained around the end rolls and having its upper reach extending across the open bottom of the container below the bottom side of the ange and its lower reach below the bottom edge of the skirt, said belt being wider than the open bottom of the container, the space between said end rolls being greater than the roll diameter, and a free-floating roll having a diameter substantially corresponding to that of said end rolls 1ocated between said end rolls and being adapted to move back and forth between said end rolls upon side to side movement of the applicator, the open bottom of the container being unobstructed whereby a block of paste wax loaded in the container may slide down out of the container to bear at its lower end on the upper reach of the belt, said third roll shuttling back and forth between the end rolls on movement of the applicator to apply wax to a oor for supporting the upper reach of the belt to prevent any crumbs of wax from spilling out over the side edges of the uper reach of the belt and to prevent the lower end of the block of wax from becoming of convex shape.

3. An applicator, particularly for applying wax to oors, comprising a container for paste wax or the like, said container being open at the bottom and adapted to be located through the top, a flange extending outward from the container at its bottom all around the bottom, a peripheral skirt depending from the ange, said skirt having two opposite straight parallel sides, said sides having a pair of aligned inside bosses toward one end and a pair of aligned inside bosses toward the other end, each boss having a bottom-opening recess, a first shaft having its ends received in the recesses in one pair of bosses, a second shaft having its end received in the recesses in the other pair of bosses, means holding the shafts in the recesses, an end roll on the first shaft, an end roll on the second shaft, an endless belt trained around the end rolls and having its upper reach extending across the open bottom of the container below the bottom side of the flange and its lower reach below the bottom edge of the skirt, said belt being wider than the open bottom of the container, the space between said end rolls being greater than the roll diameter, and a free-floating roll having a diameter corresponding to that of said end rolls and a length slightly less than that of said end rolls located between said end rolls and adapted to move back and forth therebetween upon side to side movement of the applicator, the open bottom of the container being unobstructed whereby a block of paste wax loaded in the container may slide down out of the container to bear at its lower end on the upper reach of the belt, said third roll shuttling back and forth between the end rolls on movement of the applicator to apply wax to a oor for supporting the upper reach of the belt to prevent any crumbs of wax from spilling out over the side edges of the upper reach of the belt and to prevent the lower end of the block of 2,010,314 Millar Aug. 6, 1935 wax from becoming of convex shape. 2,407,408 Erickson Sept. 10, 1946 2,474,733 Gallagher June 28, 1949 References Cited in the le of this patent 2,548,653 Cromwell Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,668,306 Kohl Feb- 9, 1954 1,715,059 Dornhecker May 28, 1929 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,871,013 Shakespeare Aug. 9v, 1932 250,322 Switzerland June 1, 1954 1,983,640 Karlstrom Dec. 11, 1934 586,957 France Apr. 7, 1925 

